My Soul to Take Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "My Soul to Take" on Blu-ray, encoded with a 1080p AVC MPEG-4 transfer and maintaining a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, delivers a somewhat inconsistent viewing experience that might leave enthusiasts longing for more. The detail fluctuates appreciably throughout, at times offering strikingly clear visuals that highlight the intricate textures of the Riverton setting and its inhabitants. However, these moments are interspersed with sequences where the imagery appears muddy, possibly a result of the film’s troubled production history, which included reshoots and a questionable conversion to 3D. Edge enhancement and noise reduction are sparingly used, preserving the natural look of the scenes to a commendable degree, but issues with image clarity, particularly in darker scenes, can detract from the overall fidelity.

Colors in the palette are generally muted, fitting the horror genre’s bleak aesthetic, but occasionally lack the depth and vibrancy one might expect, especially in a modern Blu-ray release. Black levels are adequate but lack the richness required to enhance the atmospheric tension of certain scenes, and splashes of vivid color—mostly from blood—sometimes seem out of place, not because of their hue but due to their execution. Despite these inconsistencies, skin tones remain mostly natural, barring stylistic exceptions, and certain sequences manage to showcase impressive detail and texture, hinting at what could have been a more visually compelling presentation.

On the technical side, the Blu-ray handling is proficient, with no significant artifacting or banding marring the presentation. Nonetheless, instances of noise and crush can intrude, attributed at least in part to the original cinematography rather than the transfer process itself. While fans of horror and Wes Craven’s work may find aspects to appreciate in this release—assuming they can overlook the film's inherent shortcomings—the video quality does not consistently rise above mediocrity. This Blu-ray edition mirrors the film's own problematic execution: a blend of ambition and flawed realization that ultimately yields a viewing experience as perplexing as it is pedestrian.

Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track for "My Soul to Take" is a commendable effort in marrying the eerie and sudden shocks of horror sound design with a disciplined attention to auditory detail. The sound mix appeals directly to the horror aficionado's ear, leveraging the full spectrum of silence and sonic storm to create a gripping atmosphere. Craven's intent shines through in the calculated use of the soundfield, especially notable in scenes of high tension where the LFE eruptions and rear speaker activity immerse the audience into the unfolding terror. While not groundbreaking, the sound design excels in delivering hair-raising ambience, precisely aimed directionality, and effects that transition smoothly across channels. The presence of Marco Beltrami's score enriches the auditory experience, with both its nuanced dread and moments of audacious sound effects that complement the on-screen action seamlessly.

Dialogue in "My Soul to Take" is rendered with clarity and care, ensuring that every word is intelligible amidst the complex layers of sound. This clarity extends across the board, from the spine-chilling whispers to the more dynamic sequences that demand a balance between dialogue, effect, and score. However, it's noted that in certain high-intensity scenes, the dialogue can occasionally play second fiddle to the surrounding cacophony, though this does little to detract from an otherwise meticulously structured audio mix. Furthermore, the inclusion of French and Spanish DTS 5.1 audio options, along with English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles, offers a level of accessibility and personalization that enhances the viewing experience for a broader audience.

In essence, "My Soul to Take" through its audio presentation endeavors to encapsulate the essence of horror—a task it achieves with varying degrees of success. While scenes of terror are amplified through effective use of the sound field and scored components that heighten each scare, some moments reveal limitations in balancing the narrative's mythological elements with its auditory ambitions. Despite these occasional inconsistencies, the mix overall represents a solid effort to bring Craven's vision to life with an auditory backdrop that is as unsettling as it is immersive.

The Blu-ray extras for "My Soul to Take" straddle the line between intriguing and underwhelming. The audio commentary, featuring Wes Craven and select cast members, offers an occasionally insightful but largely mundane conversation that may only appeal to the most dedicated of Craven's followers. It presents a missed opportunity to deeply explore the film’s creative process or its narrative intricacies. The deleted and extended scenes, including an alternate opening and endings, reveal abandoned narrative paths and thematic concepts that, while occasionally shedding light on the film's convoluted plot, largely fail to add meaningful substance or clarity. Moreover, the inclusion of obsolete features like BD-Live connectivity highlights a lackluster attempt at embracing Blu-ray's interactive potential. Overall, this collection of extras serves as a curiosity for completists but falls short of providing compelling reasons to revisit the film or enhance one’s appreciation of Craven's vision.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: A conversation with director Wes Craven and actors Max Thieriot, John Magaro, and Emily Meade.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes (HD, 22 minutes): Includes five scenes with only "Revelations" providing notable intrigue.
• Alternate Opening (HD, 2 minutes): Offers a marginally different beginning without clarifying the narrative.
• Alternate Endings (HD, 4 minutes): Two endings that don’t significantly diverge or improve upon the theatrical finishing.
• BD-Live Functionality and News Ticker: Outdated interactive features lacking substantial content.
• My Scenes Bookmarking: Allows users to mark and return to favorite scenes.

Wes Craven's "My Soul to Take" emerges as a perplexing addition to the horror genre, hazed by an over-ambitious plot and a lack of genuine terror. The film introduces audiences to the Riverton Ripper, a serial killer whose death coincides with the birth of seven children - named the Riverton Seven - setting the stage for a story muddled with potential yet ultimately fails in execution. This narrative foundation, intriguing at first, quickly becomes a playground for convoluted plot developments and an array of characters that add to the confusion rather than the chills. Especially challenging is the film's attempt to balance teen drama dynamics with slasher elements, leading to tonal inconsistencies that neither engage nor scare.

The technical aspects of the movie, from the rudimentary visual effects to the uncomfortable mixture of supernatural and slasher tropes, further detract from its appeal. Craven's screenplay is particularly problematic, offering dialogue and scenarios that feel disconnected from the innovative edge characteristic of his earlier works. A sense of redundancy pervades the film as it recycles familiar themes and narratives without offering fresh perspectives or compelling twists. Despite efforts from the cast, notably Max Thieriot and John Magaro, who strive valiantly against the script's limitations, their performances cannot salvage the film's deeply ingrained issues.

Surprisingly coming from Wes Craven, a filmmaker renown for revitalizing the horror genre, "My Soul to Take" falls dramatically short of expectations. Its promising premise is undermined by an over-exposition and a meandering plot that leaves viewers both bewildered and disappointed. As such, this movie stands as a stark reminder of Craven's prowess and potential sadly unrealized in this outing. Insightful moments are fleeting, overshadowed by a narrative and stylistic approach that feels both outdated and uninspired, marking "My Soul to Take" as a film better left in the depths of obscurity.

My Soul to Take" emerges as a disheartening chapter in Wes Craven’s illustrious career, marred by muddled visuals and a convoluted narrative that leave it floundering. The film itself is a laborious affair, offering little in the way of the director's once signature suspenseful storytelling, earning it the unenviable title of one of 2010's least memorable releases. Despite this, the Blu-ray edition presents a somewhat redeeming quality with its technical aspects. The visual and audio presentation, powered by a robust DTS-HD Master Audio track and a competent video transfer, ensures that the film is at least perceptually digestible. However, this silver lining is tarnished by the lackluster special features and a director's commentary that fails to enthrall, leaving much to be desired in terms of supplementary content.

Moreover, the Blu-ray release fails to adequately dissect the film's tumultuous journey, notably omitting discussions around the extensive reshoots and a problematic conversion to 3D that might have offered fascinating insights into its production woes. This oversight represents a missed opportunity to provide a constructive post-mortem of the project that could have served as an educational tool for both fans and critics. Such an exploration could have potentially provided a silver lining to what is otherwise considered a regrettable misstep in Craven's career.

In conclusion, while "My Soul to Take" on Blu-ray marginally elevates the viewing experience through its technical merits, it ultimately does little to salvage the film’s inherent flaws. The presentation may be polished, but the absence of engaging extras and an in-depth look into the film’s troubled production history leave this release feeling underwhelming. For enthusiasts of Wes Craven’s work or collectors committed to owning all facets of horror cinema, this may hold some value. However, casual viewers are likely to find this edition unsatisfying, echoing the sentiments that this is an endeavor best bypassed.